,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cef ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #f1 #bjag,mr4 ,swalwell of ,california 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,cummings1 ,ms4 ,jackson ,lee1 ,mr4 ,aguilar1 ,ms4 ,barragn1 ,ms4 ,bass1 ,mrs4 ,beatty1 ,mr4 ,bishop of ,georgia1 ,mr4 ,blumenauer1 ,ms4 ,bonamici1 ,ms4 ,bordallo1 ,mr4 ,brendan ,f4 ,boyle of ,pennsylvania1 ,mr4 ,brady of ,pennsylvania1 ,mr4 ,brown of ,maryland1 ,ms4 ,brownley of ,california1 ,mrs4 ,bustos1 ,mr4 ,butterfield1 ,mr4 ,capuano1 ,mr4 ,carbajal1 ,mr4 ,crdenas1 ,mr4 ,cartwright1 ,mr4 ,carson of ,indiana1 ,ms4 ,castor of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,castro of ,texas1 ,ms4 ,judy ,chu of ,california1 ,mr4 ,cicilline1 ,ms4 ,clark of ,massachusetts1 ,mr4 ,clay1 ,mr4 ,cleaver1 ,mr4 ,clyburn1 ,mr4 ,cohen1 ,mr4 ,connolly1 ,mr4 ,conyers1 ,mr4 ,cooper1 ,mr4 ,correa1 ,mr4 ,costa1 ,mr4 ,courtney1 ,mr4 ,crowley1 ,mr4 ,cuellar1 ,mr4 ,danny ,k4 ,davis of ,illinois1 ,mrs4 ,davis of ,california1 ,mr4 ,de,fazio1 ,ms4 ,de,gette1 ,mr4 ,delaney1 ,ms4 ,de,lauro1 ,mr4 ,de,saulnier1 ,mr4 ,deutch1 ,mr4 ,doggett1 ,mr4 ,michael ,f4 ,doyle of ,pennsylvania1 ,mr4 ,ellison1 ,mr4 ,engel1 ,ms4 ,eshoo1 ,ms4 ,esty1 ,mr4 ,evans1 ,mr4 ,foster1 ,ms4 ,frankel of ,florida1 ,ms4 ,fudge1 ,mr4 ,gallego1 ,mr4 ,garamendi1 ,mr4 ,gonzalez of ,texas1 ,mr4 ,al ,green of ,texas1 ,mr4 ,gene ,green of ,texas1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1 ,mr4 ,gutirrez1 ,mr4 ,hastings1 ,mr4 ,heck1 ,mr4 ,himes1 ,mr4 ,hoyer1 ,mr4 ,huffman1 ,ms4 ,jayapal1 ,mr4 ,jeffries1 ,ms4 ,eddie ,bernice ,johnson of ,texas1 ,mr4 ,johnson of ,georgia1 ,ms4 ,kaptur1 ,mr4 ,keating1 ,ms4 ,kelly of ,illinois1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 ,mr4 ,khanna1 ,mr4 ,kihuen1 ,mr4 ,kildee1 ,mr4 ,kilmer1 ,mr4 ,kind1 ,mr4 ,krishnamoorthi1 ,mr4 ,langevin1 ,mr4 ,larsen of ,washington1 ,mr4 ,larson of ,connecticut1 ,mrs4 ,lawrence1 ,ms4 ,lee1 ,mr4 ,levin1 ,mr4 ,lewis of ,georgia1 ,mr4 ,ted ,lieu of ,california1 ,mr4 ,loebsack1 ,ms4 ,lofgren1 ,mrs4 ,lowey1 ,mr4 ,ben ,ray ,lujn of ,new ,mexico1 ,ms4 ,michelle ,lujan ,grisham of ,new ,mexico1 ,mr4 ,lynch1 ,mrs4 ,carolyn ,b4 ,maloney of ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,matsui1 ,ms4 ,mc,collum1 ,mr4 ,mc,eachin1 ,mr4 ,mc,govern1 ,mr4 ,mc,nerney1 ,mr4 ,meeks1 ,ms4 ,meng1 ,mr4 ,moulton1 ,ms4 ,moore1 ,mr4 ,nadler1 ,mrs4 ,napolitano1 ,mr4 ,neal1 ,mr4 ,norcross1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,mr4 ,pallone1 ,mr4 ,panetta1 ,mr4 ,pascrell1 ,ms4 ,pelosi1 ,mr4 ,perlmutter1 ,mr4 ,peters1 ,mr4 ,peterson1 ,ms4 ,plaskett1 ,mr4 ,pocan1 ,mr4 ,polis1 ,mr4 ,price of ,north ,carolina1 ,mr4 ,quigley1 ,mr4 ,raskin1 ,miss ,rice of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,richmond1 ,ms4 ,rosen1 ,ms4 ,roybal-,allard1 ,mr4 ,ruiz1 ,mr4 ,ruppersberger1 ,mr4 ,ryan of ,ohio1 ,ms4 ,snchez1 ,mr4 ,sarbanes1 ,ms4 ,schakowsky1 ,mr4 ,schiff1 ,mr4 ,schneider1 ,mr4 ,scott of ,virginia1 ,ms4 ,sewell of ,alabama1 ,ms4 ,shea-,porter1 ,mr4 ,sherman1 ,ms4 ,sinema1 ,ms4 ,slaughter1 ,mr4 ,smith of ,washington1 ,mr4 ,soto1 ,ms4 ,speier1 ,mr4 ,suozzi1 ,mr4 ,takano1 ,mr4 ,thompson of ,mississippi1 ,mr4 ,thompson of ,california1 ,ms4 ,titus1 ,mr4 ,tonko1 ,mrs4 ,torres1 ,ms4 ,tsongas1 ,mr4 ,vargas1 ,mr4 ,veasey1 ,mr4 ,vela1 ,ms4 ,velzquez1 ,ms4 ,wasserman ,schultz1 ,ms4 ,maxine ,waters of ,california1 ,mrs4 ,watson ,coleman1 ,mr4 ,welch1 ,mr4 ,yarmuth1 ,ms4 ,adams1 ,ms4 ,clarke of ,new ,york1 ,mrs4 ,dingell1 ,mr4 ,espaillat1 ,ms4 ,gabbard1 ,mr4 ,higgins of ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,kuster of ,new ,hampshire1 ,mr4 ,lowenthal1 ,mrs4 ,murphy of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,o',rourke1 ,mr4 ,rush1 ,mr4 ,sablan1 ,mr4 ,serrano1 ,mr4 ,sires1 and ,ms4 ,wilson of ,florida7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,national ,commission on ,foreign ,interference in the #bjaf ,election4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,protecting ,our ,democracy ,act4 #b4 ,establishment ,there is established in the legislative branch the ,national ,commission on ,foreign ,interference in the #bjaf ,election 7in this ,act referred to as the ,commission74 #c4 ,purposes 7a7 ,activities of ,russian government ,the purpose of the ,commission is to examine any attempts or activities by the ,russian government1 persons or entities associated with the ,russian government1 or persons or entities within ,russia to use electronic means to influence1 interfere with1 or sow distrust in elections for public office held in the ,united ,states in #bjaf1 including the following3 7#a7 ,electronic hacks by the ,russian government1 persons or entities associated with the ,russian government1 or other persons or entities within ,russia into-- 7,a7 the electronic systems of the ,democratic ,national ,committee2 7,b7 the electronic systems of the ,democratic ,congressional ,campaign ,committee2 7,c7 the electronic systems of ,mr4 ,john ,podesta1 campaign chairman for ,democratic presidential nominee ,hillary ,clinton2 7,d7 the electronic systems of former ,secretary of ,state ,colin ,powell2 and 7,e7 the electronic systems of ,arizona1 ,illinois1 and ,florida1 particularly voter database information4 7#b7 ,efforts by the ,russian government1 persons or entities associated with the ,russian government1 or persons or entities within ,russia to put forward1 disseminate1 or promote false news about the campaigns for elections for public office held in the ,united ,states in #bjaf4 7#c7 ,efforts by the ,russian government to work with other governments1 entities1 and individuals to carry out activities described in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b74 7b7 ,activities of others ,in addition to the purpose described in subsection 7a71 the purpose of the ,commission is to examine attempts or activities by governments other than the ,russian government1 persons associated with governments other than the ,russian government1 and other entities and individuals to use electronic means to influence1 interfere with1 or sow distrust in elections for public office held in the ,united ,states in #bjaf1 including activities similar to those described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#c7 of subsection 7a74 #d4 ,composition and compensation of ,commission 7a7 ,members ,the ,commission shall be composed of #ab members1 of whom-- 7#a7 #c shall be appointed by ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives and #c shall be appointed by the ,majority ,leader of the ,senate2 and 7#b7 #c shall be appointed by the ,minority ,leader of the ,house of ,representatives and #c shall be appointed by the ,minority ,leader of the ,senate4 7b7 ,chair and ,vice ,chair ,the ,commission1 by majority vote1 shall choose a ,chair and ,vice ,chair1 of whom-- 7#a7 one shall be a member appointed under paragraph 7#a72 and 7#b7 one shall be a member appointed under paragraph 7#b74 7c7 ,qualifications 7#a7 ,nongovernmental appointees ,an individual appointed to the ,commission may not be an officer or employee of the ,federal ,government1 any ,state1 or any local government4 7#b7 ,other qualifications ,it is the sense of ,congress that individuals appointed to the ,commission should be prominent ,united ,states citizens1 with national recognition and significant depth of experience in such professions as governmental service1 law enforcement1 the armed services1 law1 public administration1 intelligence gathering1 foreign affairs1 cybersecurity1 and ,federal elections4 7#c7 ,deadline for appointment ,all members of the ,commission shall be appointed not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7#d7 ,vacancies ,any vacancy in the ,commission shall not affect its powers1 but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made4 7#e7 ,compensation 7,a7 ,in general ,each member of the ,commission may be compensated at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecae of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 for each day during which that member is engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the ,commission4 7,b7 ,travel expenses ,while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the ,commission1 members of the ,commission shall be allowed travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the ,government service are allowed expenses under section #egjc7;b7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 #e4 ,procedures of ,commission 7a7 ,initial meeting ,the ,commission shall meet and begin the operations of the ,commission as soon as practicable4 ,after its initial meeting1 the ,commission shall meet upon the call of the chairman or a majority of its members4 7b7 ,quorum 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 a majority of the members of the ,commission shall constitute a quorum4 7#b7 ,alternative quorum for taking testimony ,for purposes of taking testimony of witnesses1 two members of the ,commission may constitute a quorum1 so long as at least one of the members is a member appointed under paragraph 7#a7 of section #d7;a7 and at least one of the members is a member appointed under paragraph 7#b7 of section #d7;a74 7c7 ,voting ,no proxy voting shall be allowed on behalf of a member of the ,commission4 7d7 ,rules of procedure 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall establish rules for the conduct of the ,commission's business1 if such rules are not inconsistent with this ,act or other applicable law4 7#b7 ,adoption at initial meeting ,at its initial meeting1 the ,commission shall adopt the rules established under paragraph 7#a74 #f4 ,functions of ,commission 7a7 ,in general ,the duties of the ,commission are as follows3 7#a7 ,to investigate attempts or activities by the ,russian government1 persons or entities associated with the ,russian government1 or persons or entities within ,russia to use electronic means to influence1 interfere with1 or sow distrust in elections for public office held in the ,united ,states in #bjaf1 including the following3 7,a7 ,electronic hacks by the ,russian government1 persons or entities associated with the ,russian government1 or other persons or entities within ,russia into-- 7i7 the electronic systems of the ,democratic ,national ,committee2 7ii7 the electronic systems of the ,democratic ,congressional ,campaign ,committee2 7iii7 the electronic systems of ,mr4 ,john ,podesta1 campaign chairman for ,democratic presidential nominee ,hillary ,clinton2 7iv7 the electronic systems of former ,secretary of ,state ,colin ,powell2 and 7v7 the electronic systems of ,arizona1 ,illinois1 and ,florida1 particularly voter database information4 7,b7 ,efforts by the ,russian government1 persons or entities associated with the ,russian government1 or persons or entities within ,russia to put forward1 disseminate1 or promote false news about the campaigns for elections for public office held in the ,united ,states in #bjaf4 7,c7 ,efforts by the ,russian government to work with other governments1 entities1 and individuals to carry out activities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b74 7#b7 ,to investigate attempts or activities by governments other than the ,russian government1 persons or entities associated with governments other than the ,russian government1 and other entities and individuals to use electronic means to influence1 interfere with1 or sow distrust in elections for public office held in the ,united ,states in #bjaf1 including activities similar to those described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,c7 of paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,to identify1 review1 and evaluate the lessons learned from the attempts1 activities1 and efforts described in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 relative to detecting1 preventing1 protecting from1 and responding to such attempts1 activities1 and efforts4 7#d7 ,to make such recommendations as the ,commission considers appropriate to ensure that foreign governments and persons associated with foreign governments never again use electronic means to influence1 interfere with1 or sow distrust in elections for public office held in the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,reports to the ,president and ,congress 7#a7 ,interim reports ,the ,commission may submit to the ,president and ,congress interim reports containing such findings1 conclusions1 and recommendations as have been agreed to by a majority of ,commission members4 7#b7 ,final report ,not later than #ah months after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall submit to the ,president and ,congress a final report containing such findings1 conclusions1 and recommendations as have been agreed to by a majority of ,commission members4 #g4 ,powers of ,commission 7a7 ,hearings and evidence ,the ,commission or1 on the authority of the ,commission1 any subcommittee or member thereof1 may1 for the purpose of carrying out this ,act-- 7#a7 hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places1 take such testimony1 receive such evidence1 administer such oaths2 and 7#b7 subject to subsection 7b77#a71 require1 by subpoena or otherwise1 the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books1 records1 correspondence1 memoranda1 papers1 and documents1 as the ,commission or such designated subcommittee or designated member may determine advisable4 7b7 ,subpoenas 7#a7 ,issuance 7,a7 ,in general ,a subpoena may be issued under this subsection only-- 7i7 by the agreement of the chair and vice chair2 or 7ii7 by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the ,commission4 7,b7 ,signature ,subject to subparagraph 7,a77i71 subpoenas issued under this subsection may be issued under the signature of the chairman or any member designated by a majority of the ,commission1 may be served by any person designated by the chairman or by a member designated by a majority of the ,commission4 7#b7 ,enforcement 7,a7 ,in general ,in the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpoena issued under paragraph 7#a71 the ,united ,states district court for the judicial district in which the subpoenaed person resides1 is served1 or may be found1 or where the subpoena is returnable1 may issue an order requiring such person to appear at any designated place to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence4 ,any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of that court4 7,b7 ,additional enforcement ,in the case of any failure of any witness to comply with any subpoena or to testify when summoned under authority of this section1 the ,commission may1 by majority vote1 certify a statement of fact constituting such failure to the appropriate ,united ,states attorney1 who may bring the matter before the grand jury for its action1 under the same statutory authority and procedures as if the ,united ,states attorney had received as certification under sections #ajb through #ajd of the ,revised ,statutes of the ,united ,states 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #aib through #aid74 7c7 ,contracting ,the ,commission may1 to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation ,acts1 enter into contracts to enable the ,commission to discharge its duties under this ,act4 7d7 ,information from federal agencies 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission is authorized to secure directly from any executive department1 bureau1 agency1 board1 commission1 office1 independent establishment1 or instrumentality of the ,government1 information1 suggestions1 estimates1 and statistics for the purposes of this ,act4 ,each department1 bureau1 agency1 board1 commission1 office1 independent establishment1 or instrumentality shall1 to the extent authorized by law1 furnish such information1 suggestions1 estimates1 and statistics directly to the ,commission1 upon request made by the chairman1 the chairman of any subcommittee created by a majority of the ,commission1 or any member designated by a majority of the ,commission4 7#b7 ,receipt1 handling1 storage1 and dissemination ,information shall only be received1 handled1 stored1 and disseminated by members of the ,commission and its staff consistent with all applicable statutes1 regulations1 and ,executive orders4 7e7 ,assistance from federal agencies 7#a7 ,general services administration ,the ,administrator of ,general ,services shall provide to the ,commission on a reimbursable basis administrative support and other services for the performance of the ,commission's functions4 7#b7 ,other departments and agencies ,in addition to the assistance prescribed in paragraph 7#a71 departments and agencies of the ,united ,states may provide to the ,commission such services1 funds1 facilities1 staff1 and other support services as they may determine advisable and as may be authorized by law4 7f7 ,postal services ,the ,commission may use the ,united ,states mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as departments and agencies of the ,united ,states4 #h4 ,staff 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,appointment and compensation ,the chairman1 in accordance with rules agreed upon by the ,commission1 may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the ,commission to carry out its functions1 without regard to the provisions of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 governing appointments in the competitive service1 and without regard to the provisions of chapter #ea and subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ec of such title relating to classification and ,general ,schedule pay rates1 except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at level ,v of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecaf of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,personnel as federal employees 7,a7 ,in general ,the staff director and any personnel of the ,commission who are employees shall be employees under section #baje of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 for purposes of chapters #fc1 #ha1 #hc1 #hd1 #he1 #hg1 #hi1 #hi;,a1 #hi;,b1 and #ij of that title4 7,b7 ,members of commission ,subparagraph 7,a7 shall not be construed to apply to members of the ,commission4 7b7 ,detailees ,any ,federal ,government employee may be detailed to the ,commission without reimbursement from the ,commission1 and such detailee shall retain the rights1 status1 and privileges of his or her regular employment without interruption4 7c7 ,expert and consultant services ,the ,commission is authorized to procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section #caji of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a position at level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecae of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 #i4 ,public meetings2 public versions of reports 7a7 ,requiring public meetings and release of public versions of reports ,the ,commission shall-- 7#a7 hold public hearings and meetings to the extent appropriate2 and 7#b7 release public versions of the reports required under section #f7;b74 7b7 ,public hearings ,any public hearings of the ,commission shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the protection of information provided to or developed for or by the ,commission as required by any applicable statute1 regulation1 or ,executive order4 #aj4 ,security clearances for ,commission members and staff ,the appropriate ,federal agencies or departments shall cooperate with the ,commission in expeditiously providing to the ,commission members and staff appropriate security clearances to the extent possible pursuant to existing procedures and requirements1 except that no person shall be provided with access to classified information under this ,act without the appropriate security clearances4 #aa4 ,termination 7a7 ,in general ,the ,commission1 and all the authorities of this ,act1 shall terminate #fj days after the date on which the final report is submitted under section #f7;b77#b74 7b7 ,administrative activities before termination ,the ,commission may use the #fj-;day period referred to in subsection 7a7 for the purpose of concluding its activities1 including providing testimony to committees of ,congress concerning its reports1 and disseminating the final report4 #ab4 ,funding 7a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #c1jjj1jjj to carry out this ,act4 7b7 ,duration of availability ,amounts made available to the ,commission under subsection 7a7 shall remain available until the termination of the ,commission4 #ac4 ,definition ,in this ,act1 the term electronic systems means computers1 servers1 and electronic communications4